Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Its strong dependency on weather conditions makes winter tourism especially vulnerable to
climate change. Ski industry operators’ knowledge about the possible scale and effects of
global warming is essential for adopting effective mitigation and adaptation measures. This
study it’s focused in the ski resort located in Sierra Nevada, Spain, the southernmost ski
resort in Europe. Using a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted. Although
the findings generally indicate a good knowledge of climate change, the stakeholders
perceive the issue as a global phenomenon. Stakeholders downplayed the scale of the
phenomenon at regional scale. They did not perceive climate change as a real or immediate
risk to the ski industry in Sierra Nevada. Consequently it was found a poor perceived need to
adapt to the issue. Furthermore, no adaptation strategies were found directly linked to climate
variability. Stakeholders identified technically produced snow as a business strategy to deal
with the increasing demand and competitiveness. Adaptation to climate change in Sierra
Nevada’s ski tourism was found reactive and autonomous. The main limits found to
adaptation were the lack of accurate and region-specific information about climate change
and the lack of cooperation and communication between the private and public sector.
2016.
Ski tourism, Sierra Nevada, climate change perceptions, perceived need to adapt, adaptation strategies, limits to adapt.